Chapter 9: Blessings

Blessings

 

When Jeremiah taught Logan a combat spell, it was time to put his practice to the test. Although the spell would only cause small to mid-sized roots to wrap up a target, it was all the encouragement Logan needed to go on a small hunting excursion. 

 

Jeremiah didn’t seem eager to let him loose after their last outing, but with a little cajoling Logan managed to convince him. That’s how he found himself traveling along the south-western reaches of the Inaug Forest, quietly tracking around, looking for something to test his newfound powers on.

 

Logan had mostly taken to just categorizing things by Earth metrics, but really his ‘spells’ were more like achieving directed telepathy through intense, focused meditation. He would need to find a target in an area with foliage, while staying hidden long enough to actually activate his Blessings to the fullest extent. That's what Jeremiah had called the abilities that came from Divinity, and Logan felt like the word fit like a glove. He was certainly feeling blessed right now, a large smile gracing his face.

 

It widened as Logan found himself suddenly staring at the perfect scenario to test his skills. Ahead, there was a small animal staring out of the edge of the forest at the plains. From a distance, it was hard to make out what exactly it was, but the creature reminded Logan of a certain electric rodent from pop culture.

 

Creeping up just a little further into the surrounding shrubs, Logan slipped into the comfortable meditation state that had almost become second nature. As his tentacles subconsciously formed the required symbols, Logan’s mind reached out to the long grass in front of the creature and imparted his desire. He would have preferred to have the large gnarled roots of the Forest’s trees do his bidding, but had found in earlier testing that such old and proud trees would require forewarning before acquiescing to his wants. The much younger and more impressionable blades of grass were more easily malleable, and would still serve his purpose. 

 

As Logan firmly applied his will, the rodent sensed something was amiss, and redirected its gaze straight to Logan’s hiding spot.

 

Too late, Logan thought as the grass jumped to do his bidding. Suddenly the little guy found himself bound and pulled over into plains, where more and more of the grasping grass reached out and joined in the fun. Without any remorse, the grass slowly smothered any movement or motion until the beast was completely and utterly immobilized.

 

Logan whistled. That had gone well.

Standing over his catch, Logan analyzed it further. The creature really did look like Pikachu, with a chunky body and short stubby appendages. From its former stance, it looked like it would normally stand on two feet, despite its stature. Those same stubby appendages were still struggling mightily against its bond. However, as soon as Logan looked into its eyes, the thing stopped resisting. 

 

That didn’t bother him, as Logan could get a better view when it wasn’t moving. Logan was just noting how his face was actually kinda cute, when suddenly the air turned sour. The little guy had soiled himself.

 

Of course, because the rodent was fighting against seed and soil, it would only serve to benefit its enemies in the long run. It did, however, bring the full realization of what he had come to do into Logan’s brain. 

 

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As he had been trekking around, hunting down some prey, Logan had also been fantasizing about what he was going to do once he found it. In his mind, he would fight a scrappy fight with a strong opponent, and would somehow manage to convincingly come out on top. Then he would practice his magic on the beast until he learned some crazy soul attack to make him into a legend.

 

Instead, he was simply terrorizing a helpless animal. Logan didn’t even know where to begin on developing an attack with his soul. Even his back up plan of killing it to bring back to Jeremiah for dinner, seemed barbaric now. Logan felt sick.

 

Logan took a few steps backwards, but remained focused on the foot long rodent he had caught. He felt his resolve tighten as he looked down on it, and a realization occurred of what he must do. Logan slipped back into his meditative trance and began weaving the bonding patterns.

Even though Logan created the pattern almost immediately, he didn’t initiate contact yet. Instead, he made sure it was perfect as he calmed his thoughts. Logan wasn’t sure of how exactly the Blessings worked, but given that the ones Logan could use seemed to connect the targets’ minds he thought clearing his own might help the small guy follow suit.

 

It took him almost a minute, but once Logan felt his muscles lose tension he connected to the creature with the bonding pattern. As his tentacle looped into the creature's soul, Logan could suddenly feel its abject terror. It felt exactly the same as Bennett the bear’s had.

 

However, this time Logan’s partner wasn’t going to run away. Couldn’t more accurately, and that allowed Logan time to study why it was so afraid of him. It didn’t seem to be because of his control of the plants, which the creature hadn’t even deduced yet. Nor did it seem to be innately cowed by humans. Which left only one option left.

 

Logan was not happy that whatever he was now seemed to be interfering with his Divinity. From the creature’s jumbled thoughts, he could tell that whatever type of being Logan now was, usually meant a swift death for one of the rodent's kind. But it had no reason to think so, no memory to go off of. It was simply the rodent’s natural instinct to fear Logan for what he was.

 

Which again, did not sit right with Logan. He still felt the exact same as he had in his previous life, the only difference now was his soul vision. Surely if he could show the little guy who he really was the creature wouldn’t be so afraid, right?

 

So, Logan felt around at the connection he was forming and tried to change it slightly. As he mentally grabbed it, he forced his side of the connection wider. It hurt Logan deep in his chest, but that didn’t matter right now. He was going to show this stupid overgrown hamster that he was a fucking good guy.

 

As the pain intensified, Logan’s perception of the connection only grew sharper. Now, it resembled the ninth tentacle in Logan’s collection, except it led straight into the soul of the rodent, and was a blue shade, unlike the purple of Logan’s soul.

 

Their minds crept closer and closer together, as Logan pulled and heaved on the connection. He could feel some of the essence of his being slip away in the effort, but he saw it being fed into the bond and was content. Everyone knows that the strongest spells always require the caster to sacrifice something. Logan just hoped he would survive to see the effects.

 

Finally, Logan felt something in him snap, and a great light blinded him. Even as his consciousness once again faded, Logan noticed the bond was stronger than ever. Then he had time enough to worry he was getting addicted, before Logan blacked out.

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